Diamond setting for watches



Jan. 2, 1951 M. NEWHOUSE 2,536,206

DIAMOND SETTING FOR WATCHES Filed Oct. 29, 1947 INVENTOR ZEO/V' 1 1.NED/HOUSE ozzima ATTORN EY Patented Jan. 2, 1 951 DIAMOND SETTING FORWATCHES Leon M. Newhouse, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor toLongines-Viittnauer Watch 00., Inc., New York,

N. Y., a corporation Application October 29, 1947, Serial No. 782,741

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to watches, and more particularly todiamond-adorned wrist watches.

It is the primary object of the present invention to lend to a wristwatch of any style the distinguished appearance of a diamond-adornedtime piece, without appreciably increasing the cost of the watch.

Hence, it is another object of the present invention to use the lowestpossible number of diamonds, i. e., a single diamond, in the adornmentof a watch, and to locate the single diamond on the watch so that thedesign or style of the latter remains well balanced and is not adverselyaffected by the diamond.

It is, therefore, another object of the present invention to provide aninexpensive, yet secure and sightly, mounting for a diamond on the hubof the top hand of a watch which is customarily the minute hand.

The above and other objects, features and ad vantages of the presentinvention will be more fully understood from the following descriptionconsidered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a greatly enlarged perspective view of a set diamond ready formounting on the top hand of the watch;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 2, showing the set diamondmounted on the top hand of the watch;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a greatly enlarged perspective view of a modified top hand ofa watch on which the instant set diamond may be mounted;

Fig. 6 is a greatly enlarged perspective view of another modified tophand of a watch on which a smaller set diamond may be mounted.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Fig. 1 thereof, thereference numeral it designates a wrist watch, comprising a casing E2 inwhich the watch movement is conventionally housed. Visible through theusual crystal-covered window M of the casing I2 is the customary dial 16over wh ch sweep the hour and minute hands I 8 and 20 respectively. Thewatch so far described is conventional in every respect, and may assumeany style or design.

The post 22 of the watch movement, which extends through the watch dial[6 and is conventionally driven through one complete revolution during60 minutes, carries the minute hand 20 a watch embodying (Fig. 2) Theminute hand 20 is customarily provided with a circular hub 24 which ismounted on the post 22 in the manner shown in Fig. 2. It is this hub 25of the minute hand 20 which is utilized for the secure mounting of theset diamond St on the watch. The setting for the diamond is in the formof a mounting disk 32 of non-corroding and preferably precious metal,having in its top a frusto-conical depression 34, from the bottom ofwhich rises an annular rim 36 (Fig. 4) that encircles the diamond 38which is seated on a frusto-con cal surface 4!] of the disk The rim 35is stemmed over the ground slanting sides 42 of the diamond as at 44 inorder securely and permanently to retain the diamond on its seat at. Themounting disk 32 is at its bottom annu ar y recessed as at 46 (Fig. 4)to provide a depending peripheral skirt 48 which is adapted snu ly tofit over the periphery of the hub 24 of the minute hand 20 for thesecure mounting of the set diamond on the minute hand (Fig. 3). The deending skirt 48 on the m0unting disk 32 is notched as at 5!! for thereception of the radially extending minute hand (Fig. 3). The outs deand inside diameters of the hub 24 of the minute hand and of thedepending skirt 48 on the mounting disk 32, respectively, are such thatthe skirt 43, when forced over the hub 24, has such a pressfit with thelatter that it will not of itself come off the hub 24 of the minute hand2! By mounting the diamond 38 at the bottom of the frusto-con caldepression 34 in the disk 32, the same is set off to good advantage,particularlv when the surface of the de ress on 34 is polished to amirror finish, and the overall height of the set diamond is reduced to aminimum so as to. permit its mounting on the minute hand 2%! of thewatch without interference from the crystal that covers the window I 4.

Fig. 5 shows a minute hand 2!! which is modilied to the extent that t ehub 24' thereof is rovided with a raised peripheral skirt 6!! over whichthe de end ng skirt 4% of the mounting disk 30 is pressfitted. In thisinstance, the skirt 48 of the mounting disk 3!! need not be notched andmay be continuous, since it does not reach down to the level of theradia ly-extending minute hand as is obvious from Figs. 4 and 5.

Fig. 5 shows another minute hand 20" which is still. further modified inthat the hub 24 thereof is provided with a central disk-like platformover the periphery of which the depending bottom skirt (not shown) of asmaller diamond 3 setting 30 may be pressfitted for its secure mountingon the minute hand 20".

While the instant diamond setting has been described as being applicableto a wrist watch, it is to be understood that the same is applicablewith equal advantage to any other type of watch. Also, while theforegoing description dealt with the adornment-eta watch by"means of adiamond, it isfully within the scope of the present invention to use anyother precious stone 01' even an artificial stone.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention, it"will be understood that various changesmay "be"*made inthe present invention without' departing fidm I 1 the underlying idea orprinciples of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters-Patent,

I I 1: Inwa watch having :hourand minute ihands fof whioh oneuisthe top:hand and has fa hub,'-a zheniher lin' which :a diamond "or -the-=-like-i-s' set, and meanson-saidwmember for securing the lattei to :said nub.a In a watch having-hour andminute hands of which one is 'the top handand has a e-hub, ar -member in: which-ardiamond tor "the like is set,and means ron-rsaid member for pressfittedly SECUIiHgwiihB latterto--the' periphery of said huh.

:In a watch havinghour-and minute hands a: which one is the I top handand has-=2. hub with a nircular' periphery, a member -.onone memberhaving onitsiopposite side as depending (annular :rim pressfitted overthe v periphery of :said" :hub ior the rsecure mounting- .of said memheron saidtophand.

I l 4. -.In-.awatch having hour :andminute hands (of .which-one the tophand and has a radial pointer and asdisk -like 'hubfrom which :the

a diamond or the like comprising 'a hub on said top hand having a raisedendless rim thereon, and a member on one side of which a diamond -or the-like is .set, said member having on its opposite side a depending rimpressfitted over the rim on said hub.

- 6.' In a watch having hour and minute hands or which one is the tophand and has a hub, a

-=mounting for a diamond or the like comprising a disk-like elevation onsaid hub, and a member on one' side of which a diamond or the like isset, said member having on its opposite side iawdepending Timpressfitted over the periphery of said iel'evation.

7. In-a watch having hour and-'minute:ha'nds ofwhich one is the top handand "has "a :hub, 'awmounting'for a diamond or the like comprising radisk-like elevation on and within 'the :con-

fines of said hub, and a member on one side-of whichaa diamond or thelike 'is-set,-said:member .havingon its opposite side a depending rimpressfitted overth'e periphery of said elevation.

LEON NEWHOUSE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are' of record in" the Tiiieof this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Num e Name D t 795,109 Dover July 18, 19051,016,732 Berger Feb. 6,, 1912 1,604,013 Bausch Oct. -19; 1-926

